Prefabricated building wall



1943- H. HASENBURGER ET AL 2,309,453

PREFABRICATED BUILDING WALL Filed Aug. 2, 1941 2 Sheet's-Sheet l Jan.26, 1943.

H. HASENBURGER ETAL PREFABRIGATED BUILDING WALL Filed Aug. 2, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 12 6 1a 8 y flenlyfiasenbmger v flawe m corbeu w PMPatented Jan. 26, 1943 ES PATENT PREFABRICATED BUILDING WALL OFFICEHenry flasenburger, Newark, N. J., and Harvey Wiley Corbett, New York,N. Y., assignors to PHC Housing Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Ohio Application August 2, 1941, Serial No. 405,238

4 Claims. (Cl. 20-4) This invention relates to improvements in buildingconstruction having particular reference to building walls composed of aplurality of prefabricated parts, the general object of the inventionbeing to provide improved means for facilitating the assembling anduniting of such parts in wall-producing order, whereby to provide anexterior or interior building wall possessing low constructional cost,one which may be completely dismantled without loss of parts, and a wallpossessing high mechanical strength, resistance to heat transmission andof improved appearance.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedwall structure for frame type buildings, wherein the wall structure iscomposed of a plurality of panel units which are connected with anadjoining frame structure by means of removable holding clips, thelatter being connected with the adjacent elements of the frame structureand the wall units without the use of nails or other similar types offastening means.

For a further understanding of theinvention, reference is to be had tothe following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a wall formed in accordancewith the present invention, parts being shown in section to provide abetter understanding of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the exterior siding panelsforming a part of the wall, the view being taken to show the rear sideof the panel;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view disclosing fragmentarilythe wall studding, the exterior siding panels and the fastening clipsemployed in uniting the siding panels with the studding;

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the planeindicated by the line IV--IV of Fig. 3 and disclosing a stud, theexterior and interior siding panels and the means employed to secure thepanels to the studs;

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicatedby the line V-V of Fig. 4 and showing the longitudinally extending slotsformed in the studding members for the recep tion of the panel-holdingclips;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the clips employed to secure theexterior siding panels; Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the clipsused to attach the interior finish panels;

Fig. 8 is also a similar view of a modified form of clip which may beused to secure the exterior panels.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l designatesthe base or foundation of the building which, in the form of theinvention illustrated, is of the poured concrete type.

Mounted on the upper surface of the base is a sill 2, the latter beingheld in connection with the base by means of suitable securing devices,not shown. The sill 2 includes longitudinally extending sections 2aarranged on edge and having the lower portions reenforced by strips 2band 2c, the latter being positioned on the outer side of the sill andhaving an upwardly extending rib provided on the upper surface adjacentto the outer edge. Arising from the sill at suitably spaced intervals isa plurality of studs 3. Each of these studs comprises a air of woodstrips 4 which are maintained in spaced relationship and united by meansof spacer bars 5. The width of the spacer bars, as shown in Figs. 1 and4, is less than that of the inner faces of the'strips 4, the bars beingdisposed substantially centrally of, said strips so that the inner facesof the latter may be provided with longitudinally extending saw cuts orgrooves 6. I

The outer wall of the building is composed of a plurality of verticallysuperposed siding panels 7.3 Each of these panels comprises a relativelythin outer sheet 8 of wood or other desired material. As shown in Fig.3, each sheet has its back surface provided with fixed upper and lowerbars 9 and I0 respectively which, preferably, are coextensive with thelength of the sheet 8 attached thereto. Each lower bar III has its underside recessed as at l l in order to receive the upper edge of the sheet8 of the next lower panel. Likewise, the upper side of each of the upperbars 9 is longitudinally recessed as at I 2 and spaced from the lowersurface of the bar ill of the next adjacent upper panel 1.

To secure these siding panels to the studs 3 in a quickly executed, yetvpositive manner, the present invention makes use of metallic clips l3 ofthe type disclosed in Fig. 6. Each of these clips is stamped from asingle sheet of metal to include a baserportion l4 having arcuate endwalls l5. Integrally projecting from the upper edge of each of the baseportions I4 is a forwardly and horizontally projecting web I6, thelatter being of less width than the length of the adjoining base portionM. The forward end of each of the webs l6 terminates in a downwardlydirected lip H, the latter having an outwardly and angularly directedlower edge portion I8.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that in erectinga wall inaccordance with the present invention, the lowermost of the sidingpanels I is placed against the sill strips 2 and moved downward toposition the rib on the sill strip 20 in the recess ii of the bar Icarried by the lower panel 1, as shown in Fig. l. The engagement betweenthe bar It and the rib on strip 2c prevents the lower portion of thelower panel from moving away from the building frame. The upper portionof the panel is secured to the frame through the use of the clips i2.Thereafter, the siding panels are placed in superposed relationship, oneupon the other, with the sheets 8 of adjoining panels arranged inoverlapping and watershedding relationship, the upper edge of each sheetbeing received within the recess ll of the bar ll of the next adjacentupper panel. This arrangement serves to prevent the lower portions ofthe panels from moving away from the walls. The upper portions of thepanels in turn are united to the studding members 3 by means of theclips l3. Due to the spacing of the strips 4 of each stud member, theclips at the time of insertion are'tumed, as shown by dotted lines inFig. 5, so that the length of the base portion i4 of each clip will beso disposed as to be received within bers as equipped along their rearfaces with strips of thermal insulation. The present invention iscontrasted from our previous disclosure by the fact that the clips aredetachably connected with both the siding and stud members, so that theyare not so apt to become bent or distorted during shipment or handling.Furthermore, in the present invention, the thermal insulation isseparate- 1y secured by any suitable means to the stud members ratherthan being directly connected with the siding members, another featurewhich avoids injuring the insulation during shipment or handling and, inaddition, provides for an improved weather-excluding construction.

Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, rectangular panels 2i ofa compressed ormolded insulation, such as mineral fibers or the like, are positionedbetween the outer strips 4 of the studs. Preferably, the panels 2i areeach of room height and of a width corresponding to the spacing betweenadjoining stud members. The lower edges of the panels may rest on thesill structure 2 and their upper edges may engage with the ceiling orroof girts, not shown. 'The outer surfaces of the the space providedbetween the strips 4. When the base portion is then aligned with the sawcuts or grooves 8, the clip is rotated about 90 degrees so that thearcuate ends l5 thereof will be positioned within the grooves or sawcuts 6, thus preventing the clips from being outwardly withdrawn fromthe stud members, and are slidably united in connection therewith. Theoverhanging lips ll of the clips are then positioned in the recesses i2of the bars 9, fastening the siding members or panels to the studs; Thissystem of assembly is followed throughout the entire height of thebuilding wall. It will be noted that the siding members are secured tothe studs without the use of nails or special tools. Moreover, theoperation may be expeditiously carried out. Similar convenience is ofcourse obtainable in the dismantling of the wall when such a conditionis occasioned. The construction employed enables complete dismantlingwithout injury to any of the parts comprising the wall. All of thepartsare preferably made to factory specifications, so that they may beshipped in a collapsed condition in compact grouping and then, withoutany fitting or dressing at the site of erection, assembled into theirproper relative order.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, the side edges of the web portions 16of the clips are provided with down-tumed sharpened tongues I9 which areforced into the bars 9, when the lips H are positioned in the recessesI2, to more positively secure the clips and panels in place.

While the lower portions of the lips ii are outwardly turned to a slightdegree to the end that when the clips are engaged with the bars 9, thepanels will be forced snugly into contact with the outer edges of thestuds, the engagement may i be made still more forceful by forming theclips of spring steel and providing a slight bow 20 between the tonguesl9 and the base l4, as shown in Fig. 8. When this modified form of clipis forced into engagement with the anel bar, the bowed portion 20 willbeflexed and the panel firmly held in contact with the studs.

In our prior' copending application, Serial No.

299,890, filed October 1'1, 1939 now Patent No. 2,266,599. we disclosedsiding panels adapted for detachable connection with studding by meansof metallic clips carried by the siding members.

Also, said application discloses the siding mem- 7s panels 2| arepositioned against the rear surfaces of the upper bars 8 mounted on theinner surfaces of the siding members 1 which maintain the insulatingpanels in spaced relation from the body portions of said siding members.The panels 2i are held in proper positions by suitable fasteners whichdo not require the use of nails or special tools for their application.

The interior of the composite wall structure is completed by meansofinner panels 22, which may be formed from any desired materials andsuitably finished to provide an attractive room wall. The panels 22 areof rectangular form and are disposed for engagement with the inner edgesof the strips 4, as shown in Fig. 4. The panels have reduced marginaledges 23 which are engaged by the outer legs of. U-shaped metallicfastening elements 24, the inner legs of the fastening elements beingreceived within'saw cuts or grooves 25 provided lengthwise in the strip4.

In combination with the panels 22, the inner wall is finished by meansof parting strips 28. Each of these parting strips is formed with a head21 having reversely beveled side surfaces 28, which are adapted to havesnap engagement with resil ient lips 2! projecting from the fasteningelement 24.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a building wall composed ofprefabricated parts which may be readily and securely assembled at thetime of wall erection. The construction is particularly suitable forresidential buildings of all types, providing a wall construction ofhigh the time of erection to specially shape or fit any 7 of the-parts.We claim:

1. Wall construction comprising vertical studs,-

each of said studs having the front thereof inwardly recessed, the sidewalls of said recess being provided with registering longitudinally'extending grooves, a plurality of horizontally extending relativelysuperposed wall-forming panels having the inner surfaces thereof engagedwith the fronts'of said studs, a bar secured to the rearportion of eachof said panel members adiaa plurality of vertically disposedstationarily supcent to the upper part thereof, said bar being providedwith a shoulder, and a plurality of metallic fastening clips removablyand slidably mounted in the grooves of said studs, each of said clipshaving a forwardly directed lip portion adapted for engagement with theshoulder of one of said panel member bars, whereby to retain said panelmembers against lateral movement with respect to said studs.

2. In building wall construction, a plurality of relatively spacedstationarily supported vertically extending studs, each of said studshaving the front thereof provided with a longitudinally extendinginwardly directed recess, each recess having the side walls thereofformed with oppositely disposed registering longitudinally extendinggrooves, a plurality of horizontally extending siding members arrangedin vertically superposed overlapping order at the fronts of said studs,each of said siding members consisting of an outer panel, spaced upperand lower horizontally extending bars secured to the rear surface ofeach of said panels, the lower of said bars being recessed to receivethe upper edge portion of the panel of the next adjacent lower sidingmember, the upper part of each panel being provided with alongitudinally disposed shoulder, and a plurality of relativelyindependent fastening clips for detachably securing said siding membersto said studs, each of said clips consisting of a widened base portionhaving the ends thereof slidably and removably positioned in the groovesof said stud recesses and including further a forwardly directed lipdisposed for engagement with the shouldered portions of the upper ofsaid siding members.

3. In prefabricated building wall construction,

ported and relatively spaced studs, each of said 4 studs consisting of apair of transversely spaced vertically extending strips and anintervening filler bar, said bar being of less width than said strips toprovide on opposite sides of said studs inwardly disposed longitudinallyextending recesses, an outer wall construction composed of aplurality ofhorizontally extending vertically superposed siding members, fasteningclips removably positioned in the front recess of each stud fordetachably uniting said siding members with said studs, an inner wallconstruction com-.

posed of a plurality of panels, fastening clips positioned in the rearrecess of each of said studs for uniting said inner wall panels withsaid studs, sheets of thermal insulation positioned between said studsand said inner and outer wall members, and removable fasteners engagedwith said studs for retaining said insulated sheets in their mountedpositions.

4. In wall construction for buildings, a plurality of verticallyextending laterally spaced studs, each thereof having a pair of spaced.rails with complemental grooves formed in the opposed faces adjacent tothe inner and outer edges, finish panel means disposed in engagementwith th inner and outer edges of said studs to form inner and outer wallsurfaces, and clip means for preventing separation. of said finish panelmeans from said studs, said clip means having base and panel engagingportions, the ,opposite edges of the base portions being removablypositioned in the grooves in said studs.

HENRY HASENBURGER. HARVEY WILEY CORBE'I'I.

